Posted on 07/18/2006 2:09:29 PM PDT by eartotheground
Senator Lindsey Graham often plays the contrarian, the conservative Republican willing to poke a stick in the eye of the White House.
Mr. Graham advocates using the existing court-martial system as the basis for trying suspects, a position that has drawn fire from many other Republicans.
Last year, against the wishes of the Bush administration, he was one of the key forces in helping pass a ban on torture. While some other Republicans argue that terrorists do not deserve legal or human rights, Mr. Graham has insisted that only a system grounded in the fundamental rights of the military code and the Geneva conventions will affirm the reputation of the United States abroad and protect American troops when they are captured by enemies.
Im a big fan of the Geneva Conventions, he declared.
At a hearing last week, Mr. Graham backed up Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, as she prodded military lawyers to refute the claim of some Republicans that providing legal rights to terror suspects was tantamount to setting them free.
Isnt it correct, Mr. Graham asked the panel, after making a polite interruption, that you could be acquitted in a military commission and still be held as an enemy combatant even if youre acquitted?
Nodding at Mrs. Clinton, he explained: It goes to your point. Youre absolutely right.
In an interview later, Mrs. Clinton called Mr. Grahams position a perfect example of when someones experience can be used to inform an issue.
He comes to it from his own experience and deeply held convictions about the importance of our military code of justice, she said. Mrs. Clinton said, There isnt anyone else in the Congress who can speak with such experience and authority.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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I'm a big fan of the Geneva Convention too, Graham. But let's not play games. The jihadists don't fall under any category of the outlines of the Geneva Convention.
What uniform is it they wear again Graham? A suicide vest?
Wouldn't these two make you sick, just thinking about it....
He wants to use the court martial system for detainees?
Does this mean we can shackle them and hang them from the ceiling a la our Haditha soldiers? Or would that violate detainee rights?
He sure has eagerly thrown that away.
I assume McCain has promised him some of the big lobbyists' money, and the NYTimes has promised to cover it up if he gets caught.
I can't figure it out. He sure does seem to swoon when either McCain or Hillary are in the room, though.
Why, oh why do we burden ourselves with dips***s like "Light In The Loafers Lindsey"?
Is he still a drilling reservist?
Maybe he can be mobilized as the Military Judge during the first illegal combatant Courts Martials?
As we say in the South, he is getting too big for his britches and deserves a spanking come election time. I am tired of his McCain tactics.
....he has a 96 rating from the ACU.....that doesn't constiture "constantly undermining"...but I know he has a few issues that he seems to digress from the Repubs...but it seems like the hate for him is more emotive then substantive.....his voting record proves it....I'll name many senators that are loved here that have a lower rating from ACU
He sure looks like he wants to be in charge of something. He strikes me as someone who's mad that he's too uh "moderate" to be a Republican presidential nominee and no one would buy him jumping ship to the dems. I find him very off-putting in interviews. He tends to whine.
Not sure that ACU is an authority on the real conservatism of a Senator. And you can't just a Senator solely on their voting record.
I have spoken with lots of South Carolinians about this. The anger is palpable.
If the SC Pubbies can put up a decent candidate, Lindsey is gone.
Sad thing is that if the Dems put up a decent candidate, there is enough Republicans upset at Lindsey mouthing off that the Dem would probably win.
....that is so true...but they have been rating senators since 1971 and have been used by many on both sides as an authoritative source.....however, I do recognize that there are intangibles.......
He's a L A W Y E R for cripes sakes. What do you expect????
How did you like the comment about "I'm a big fan of the Geneva Convention"? Like anyone who disagrees with him isn't?
As a JAG, Lindsey knows better than most that the jihadists don't qualify for the Geneva Convention. But I guess he just brushes that aside as a little bump in the road.
Yeah and, "I love it when the sun shines," and, "Everybody needs a comfortable retirement."
Same thing. Lindsee, in stating the obvious, is just showing what a lightweight he truly is.
When/if McLame puts him on his ticket as VP for 2008, I wonder if he'll give up his Senate seat?
That would be a convenient solution to the problem.
For someone who has the gift of gab, he's never known when to shut up.
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